Wong grew up obsessed with music and at age 16, went from devotedly studying the Billboard Charts each week to an internship while still in high school. A summer internship position at WEA Distribution led to yet another internship at Atlantic Records. While attending New York University, Wong became a college rep for EMI Records. In 1997, while still at school, he was hired at V2 Records, where he was eventually promoted to product manager, overseeing artists such as Moby, Underworld, and Stereophonics. In 1999, Wong joined the Island Def Jam Music Group. As Vice President of Marketing, Wong developed campaigns for a diverse group of acts which included Bon Jovi, Fall Out Boy, Rihanna, Slayer, Sum 41, and Christina Milian. In 2006, he went to work for Bad Boy Entertainment and Atlantic Records, serving simultaneously as Chief Marketing Officer of Bad Boy and Senior Vice President of Marketing at Atlantic. In this dual role, he was able to get more deeply involved in hip-hop—and study the branding and product extensions pioneered by Bad Boy’s Sean “Diddy” Combs—while keeping a hand in the rock and pop he also loved. Wong points to the opportunity to work on Jay-Z’s landmark 2009 album The Blueprint 3 as a defining moment in his career, working alongside one of the greatest marketers and one of the greatest artists in hip-hop history. Seeking additional challenges, in 2009, he founded Wong Management, where he worked closely with Mariah Carey. In 2011, he returned to the Island Def Jam Music Group as Executive Vice President of Marketing, executing creative marketing strategies for artists including Kanye West, Rihanna, Avicii, The-Dream, Fall Out Boy, The Killers, Toni Braxton, and Babyface. His responsibilities expanded to oversee the label group’s marketing, digital, creative, artist development, video promotion, and video production departments. In 2014, Wong assumed the role of Executive Vice President / General Manager of Island Records where he led the day to day operations of the company. In 2018, Wong was named the Chief Operating Officer of Island Records, overseeing operations for the entire label. He oversees label operations and strategy for Island’s entire roster which include artists such as Shawn Mendes, Demi Lovato, Nick Jonas, Fall Out Boy, Tove Lo, The Killers, Bishop Briggs, Jessie Reyez, Elton John, and Mike Posner. Wong, a voting member of NARAS, holds an MBA in Marketing and resides in New York City.
Philanthropy
Wong, a previous board of director for the Asian American Arts Alliance, was honored by the Foundation in 2007 for his support of the organization whose commitment is to help local Asian American artists and art groups in the performing and visual arts access more funding and visibility for their work.
Notable features
Wong was featured on Billboard's Forty Under Forty Power Player's list in 2012 and 2015. In 2017, 2018, and 2019, he appeared on Billboard's Branding Power Players List. He featured on Variety's 2018 New Power of New York List. In 2019, he featured on Billboard’s Power 100 list.
